It's a gentle if slow work and the performances from the non-professional cast are undeniably beguiling.

| Dec 20, 2023

The White Balloon wrings expansive humanism out of its tiny canvas.

| Original Score: 87/100 | Aug 4, 2023

Panahi brings a sense of satisfying fullness to every moment in which that desire plays itself out.

| Jun 7, 2022

The documentary-style realism of Panahi's cinematography adds rhythm to a prosaic city's mundanity, where even a debut film seems like the work of a veteran.

| May 15, 2020

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 9, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 27, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 22, 2004

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | May 14, 2003

In an era when ethnic hatred turns groups against each other, it is salutary to come across a film about universal qualities linking people from different cultures.

| Feb 22, 2002

By putting itself in sync with the rhythms of everyday life, it offers a reminder that the simplest forms of filmmaking can be the most satisfying.

| Feb 14, 2001

Raziah takes everything at face value, forcing us to look again at people and situations we would immediately judge as good or bad -- reason enough to see this film.

Full Review | Jan 1, 2000

There are LONG stretches of... well, real time.

Full Review | Jan 1, 2000

[Mohammadkhani] has no screen presence and more over was about as much fun to listen to as someone scraping their fingers down a blackboard.

| Original Score: 1.5/4 | Jan 1, 2000

Explores childhood on its own terms, with great respect and an unerring sense of truth.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Jan 1, 2000

Often this movie just feels like a walk in the park with a recalcitrant child. How much can you stand to watch?

| Jan 1, 2000

The brilliance of the film, is in its simplicity.

| Original Score: A | Jan 1, 2000

Simple yet appealing movie from Iran's burgeoning film industry.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jan 1, 2000

Those with the patience to sit through all eighty-five minutes will uncover a sublime, unconventionally engrossing story.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jan 1, 2000

We need to fall in love with Razieh to see the film properly, and we do.

| Jan 1, 2000

Memorably simple, memorably resonant.

| Original Score: 4/4 | Jan 1, 2000